Boat propelling mechanism



March 8, 1932. F. HOFFMAN BOAT PROPELLING MECHANISM Filed March 13, 1931 m H T N N R m m m T M A M f M. H Y B i Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED s'rA FRANK HOFFMAN, F DEABBOBN, MICHIGAN BOAT rnornrnme Application filed March is, 1931. Serial mi. 522,294.

' My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a. boat propelling mechanism, and has for its object the provision of v a mechanism of this class which may be attached to the forward portion of a boat and by means of which a rearwardly directed blast of air will serve to effect a forward propulsion of the boat.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a mechanism of'this class of a construction in which the mechanism may be ,used for assisting in propelling the boat forwardly and also in elevating the boat so as to raise it to the surface of the water and thus 1 reduce the resistance offered to the boat by the water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, and highly eflicient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view 4 of the invention, showing it applied to a boat. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the invention with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary sectional view of. the invention taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.-

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention used with a boat 7 having a bottom 20. Mounted on the forward side of the boat is a supporting frame 8 which embraces the channel shaped rim 9 of a wheel which is rotatably mounted. on suitable standards 13. The frame 8 together with the channel shaped rim .9 provides a chamber 10 into which steam or other fluid under pressure may be'led by the pipes 11 and directed against the. inclined peripherally located turbine blades 12 carried by the rim 9. This rim is connected to the hub 14 by fan blades 15 so that when the fluid under pressure'is directed into the space 10, the wheel will be rotated and the fam blades 15 will direct a blast of air rearwardly into the passages or compartments 16 and 17 50 which are secured to and projected rearwardmethod of propelling ly. of the frame 8. These chamber members are reduced in cross sectional area as they ceed rearwardlyas shown in Fig. 2 untl they proassume the squared shape shown in Fig. 4 to a lifting effect on the boat so that in its for ward movements it has a tendency'to skim over the surface of the water. In this way there is provided an efficient and economical a boat which, when operated in conjunction with the usual propelling mechanism, will considerably increase the efliciency of thepropelling mechanism particularly on account of reducing the water resistance offered to the boat in its forward preferred form of construction of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims. c

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described adapted for use with a boat having a forward end comprising a supporting frame mounted on and embracing the forward end of said boat a hub rotatably mounted centrally of said frame; a plurality of fan lates secured to and'projecting outwardlyv om said hub; a rim having a channel 'in its periphery secured to the outer ends of said plates and forming with said frame a channef forreception of fluid under pressure. i

2. A device of the class described adapted for use with a boat having a forward end comprising: a, frame mounted on and framing the entire forward end of the boat; -a

under pressure; a plurality of fan plates connecting said rim and said hub; a, pair of blast receiving compartments projecting rearwardly of said frame and each terminating in a conduit projecting below the forward portion of the boat each of said conduits terminating in a portion open at the bottom.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

FRANK HOFFMAN. 

